Barcelona faced a tough loss against Las Palmas, with a disputed penalty decision overshadowing the match.
In the 88th minute, a key moment occurred when Las Palmas defender Mika Marmol, who used to play for Barcelona, stepped on Pau Cubarsi’s foot in the penalty area. This caused Cubarsi to fall while trying to head the ball.
Cubarsi, who ended up with a bloodied ankle, and his teammates quickly asked the referee, Adrian Cordero Vega, for a penalty. However, the referee denied the request. The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) also agreed with the referee’s decision, which frustrated the Barcelona players and fans.
A video later showed the referee explaining his decision to the Barcelona players. He argued that Marmol did not see Cubarsi when the incident happened. Cordero Vega told Cubarsi and teammate Inigo Martinez, “Nothing, nothing… But he is looking at the ball!”
To further support his choice, the referee repeated, “He does not see you, he does not see you, he does not see you…” This was captured by Movistar cameras. In the replay, it was clear that Cubarsi was in front of Marmol just before the contact occurred.
Despite the evidence, the VAR, overseen by Mateo Busquets Ferrer, decided not to award a penalty. Later in the match, in the 94th minute, Barcelona’s Pau Victor also asked for a penalty after being held by Las Palmas defender Scott McKenna, but that request was denied as well.
The match ended with Barcelona feeling hard done by the referee’s decisions, leaving players and fans questioning the fairness of the game.
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